Region’s Best

FIRST STAR: BOAT’S A ROCKIN. Saturday’s feature at the Meadowlands, a starter allowance sprint for horses who had started for a claiming price of $16,000 or less at any point in their careers, pitted stakes winner Smithwick’s Spice against stakes-placed Boat’s a Rockin. The latter, most recently fourth in the Parx Dash, went off as the 11-10 favorite in the six-horse field, while the former, a two-time stakes winner against Jersey-breds over the summer at Monmouth Park, was the 13-10 second choice. Boat’s a Rockin proved best, as he opened up a clear early lead and proved impossible to catch. He hit the wire in front by 2 1/2 lengths, for his third win of the year in seven starts and his 13th lifetime win in 49 career tries. The 7-year-old gelding is owned by M3 Racing Stable, trained by Brandon Kulp, and ridden by Samuel Marin.

SECOND STAR: GRAY’S FABLE. Third-level grass routers took center stage in Thursday’s feature at Delaware Park. Gray’s Fable, a three-time stakes winner earlier in his career, but unplaced in the Jonathan Schuster Memorial Stakes last out, pulled a mild 6-1 upset. He saved ground towards the back of the pack in the early stages, then angled off the rail in the stretch and chased down early leader Ocean City to win by 1 1/2 lengths. He covered 1 1/16 miles on a firm grass course in 1:42.87, for his eighth lifetime win in 37 starts. His career earnings now stand at $647,997. Carol Cedeno was aboard on Thursday for owners Steve Goldfine, Kari Provost, and Jeff Zlonis and trainer Mike Stidham.

THIRD STAR: FRANCISCO MARTINEZ. Martinez turned a riding hat trick at Parx on Monday. He started his day with a victory, guiding home Stay Opportunistic to victory in race 2 for trainer Howard Brown. After back-to-back defeats, he rebounded to win race 5 aboard Juan Guerrero-trained Olliemeister. He then prevailed in race 6 aboard Fast Bob, trained by Richard Vega, and completed the grand slam in race 8 on Jamie Ness trainee Mo Rewards. Martinez sits in eighth place in the Parx rider standings, with 42 wins from 336 mounts.

Laurel Park

FIRST STAR: SMOOTH FLYIN MIKE. Made his second start off a year-long layoff a winning one, prevailing in a second-level sprint on Thursday over favorite Easy Action.

SECOND STAR: SPENCERIAN. Improved to 3-for-3 on the year with a dominant win against first-level rivals later on the Thursday program.

THIRD STAR: DAZE. Promising Maryland-bred 2-year-old filly improved to 2-for-2 lifetime with a dominant win against first-level rivals on Saturday.

Delaware Park

FIRST STAR: GREY’S FABLE. Called on all his class to beat a salty field on Thursday.

SECOND STAR: PARADISE VALLEY. Battled on the pace and drew off to win a second-level sprint on Friday.

THIRD STAR: TAKE CHARGE CHLOE. Earned her second win in a row on Wednesday, taking a second-level sprint for fillies and mares by 2 3/4 lengths after contesting the early pace.

Charles Town Races

FIRST STAR: ROYAL PAIN. Came from well off the pace and won a first-level route by 5 1/4 lengths on Thursday.

SECOND STAR: NO JUDGEMENT. Prevailed in an exciting allowance win on Friday, for his fourth win of the year, but his first since May.

THIRD STAR: HEY BOOTS. Led for every step in a starter allowance dash on Friday, for his second straight win and third victory of the season.

Meadowlands

FIRST STAR: BOAT’S A ROCKIN. Rocked his way to a sharp victory on Saturday.

SECOND STAR: QUEEN TAPITURE. Came from off the pace to win a first-level sprint on Friday in a 27-1 upset.

THIRD STAR: SAMUEL MARIN. Boat’s a Rockin was one of his three Saturday winners; he’s now 9-for-29 on the meet and leads the rider standings by five with three days to go.

Parx Racing

FIRST STAR: FRANCISCO MARTINEZ. Had the best day of what’s been a strong rookie season on Monday.

SECOND STAR: PACO LOPEZ. Turned a natural riding hat trick on Wednesday.

THIRD STAR: PLEASANT EMBRACE. Earned her fourth victory of the season on Wednesday against starter optional claiming company.